Means to regulate water velocity through a hydro electric turbine

ABSTRACT

The embodiment is a venturi front shroud that can be pursed or released to decrease or increase water velocity through the housing of a turbine.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

“Not Applicable”

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

“Not Applicable”

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

“Not Applicable”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This patent application follows the provisional application No.60/472,092 with the filing date May 21, 2003, titled, “Means to increasewater velocity through a hydro electric turbine”.

The method of using a venturi to increase the velocity of a water flowis old. The embodiment has the following aspects which the inventorbelieves are new.

-   -   1) The front shroud is flexible (collapsible) on demand.    -   2) The front shroud can be pursed (drawn) together to stop water        from flowing through it and the turbine.    -   3) The purse line can be released to allow water to flow through        the front shroud and turbine.    -   4) A combination of a flexible front and a rigid rear shroud        used together as one unit.    -   5) The method of pursing a flexible shroud to stop the rotation        of a turbine.    -   6) The method of using a flotation chamber to raise a turbine to        the surface to be serviced.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One of the problems inherent in a low head (run of the river, tidal,etc.) turbine for producing electricity is the relatively slow watervelocity; usually from 1 to 5 knots. This device that incorporates 2shrouds (one front, one rear) increases the water velocity flowingthrough the turbine.

This ability to increase low head water velocities to those of high headapplications has inherent advantages of cost, size, efficiency andoverall maintainability. Since horsepower output is on an exponentialcurve with water velocity, it is expedient to keep the blade diameter assmall as possible to reach the goal power output. This embodiment doesthat by the use of shrouds. Overall cost per kilowatt hour is lower whenshrouds are used since the shrouds are the least expensive component ofthe machine.

The collapsible front shroud, when pursed, provides a rapid means ofshutting down the turbine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows the front and rear shroud with the turbine section between.The cables to the flotation chamber are cut at match line (A).

FIG. 2 shows the flotation chamber with anchor line. The cables to theshroud are cut at match line (A).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As the water flows through front shroud (4), it's velocity and pressureincreases. When the flow enters turbine housing (1), it has reachedmaximum velocity and pressure. It is in the area (2) that the work isbeing done of rotating the turbine blades. As the water passes throughthe rear shroud (3), its velocity and pressure is decreased continuallyuntil it merges again with the outside flow.

The draw line (6) which passes through all the purse rings (5) and isattached at one end to the front of the shroud (4) has the ability whenpulled, to purse (draw together) the purse rings (5) and stop the waterflow through the turbine. When the draw line (6) is released, the shroud(4) will again open, allowing water to pass through the turbine. Thecable (7) attaches the front shroud (4) to the flotation chamber (8).

The scope angle adjustment (9) is where the anchor line (10) is attachedto the flotation chamber (8). By adjusting the attachment point of theanchor line (1) fore or aft, the scope angle

The embodiment is designed to be pulled below the water surface by theincreased amount of drag created when the turbine is operating. When theturbine is switched off or the front shroud (4) is pursed, drag willdecrease and the entire embodiment will float to the surface of thewater body.

1. A hydroelectric turbine flexible and collapsible front shroud.
 2. Amethod of using a flexible and collapsible front shroud together with arigid (non-collapsible) rear shroud to increase water velocity through ahydroelectric turbine.
 3. A method of pursing a flexible and collapsiblefront shroud to stop the rotation of a hydroelectric turbine.
 4. Amethod of using purse rings and a draw line to pull the upstream end ofthe flexible and collapsible front shroud of claim 1 together.
 5. Amethod of using purse rings and a draw line to stop and start therotation of a hydroelectric turbine blade.
 6. A method of stopping thewater flow through a hydroelectric turbine flexible and collapsiblefront shroud of claim 1 by pursing the turbine front shroud.
 7. A methodof reducing the drag on the hydroelectric turbine front shroud of claim1 by pursing the turbines front shroud, thereby causing the turbine torise to the surface of the water.
 8. A method of pulling a hydroelectricturbine below the surface of a body of water by releasing a draw linewhich allows a collapsible front shroud to open thereby causingadditional drag against the anchor line.
 9. A method of keeping theballast tank of a hydroelectric turbine horizontal by changing theanchor line attachment locations.
 10. A method of using the flexible andcollapsible front shroud of claim 1 together with a flotation chamber toraise a hydroelectric turbine to the surface of a body of water.